UT Martin football must turn frustration into results

MARTIN – This game week is short, as UT Martin football hosts NAIA opponent Cumberland out of middle Tennessee at 6 p.m. Thursday. A win and better play are both expected from the Skyhawks in their home opener.

Conference opponent Eastern Kentucky looms Sept. 20, and by then the Skyhawks need to know their strengths and play to their potential. Coach Jason Simpson spoke of urgency increasing at last week's practices created by the Kentucky embarrassment. An 0-2 start should heighten that sense this week.

"[We had] a good week of practice," Simpson said Monday. "I saw a lot of ownership being taken. I saw some guys say 'Hey we've got to get a whole lot better at this.' We just can't take things for granted because we've got a bunch of upperclassmen. We've got to focus in practice.

"Practice hadn't been bad, but it just got better last week because of the poor performance in the first game, and that's the only thing that gave us a chance in this game against the type of opponent UCA is."

Still, the Skyhawks let a 21-7 lead at Central Arkansas evaporate into a 26-24 loss. That type of situation could spoil title contention if it happens in Ohio Valley Conference play.

Simpson said he'll remind the players Cumberland will visit Thursday with the same nothing-to-lose, plenty-to-prove attitude UTM takes to Memphis, Mississippi State, Kentucky and other FBS schools.

The disappointing first two weekends, with conference play less than two weeks away, should have UTM pursuing success just as aggressively.

"I wish we could play today," Simpson said.

IMPROVEMENTS: Sophomore wide receiver Kyle Kerrick, a Michigan State transfer, risked losing his starting position with a poor game at Kentucky but made up for it with strong practices last week and then nine catches for 150 yards against Central Arkansas.

Simpson said several defensive players were notably better Saturday, too.

O-LINE QUESTIONS: Simpson said the line's lack of consistency led to senior running back Abou Toure's 30 yards on 16 carries Saturday.

"We didn't block very well up front," Simpson said. "Even though we had 411 yards we didn't control the line of scrimmage. A lot of times we just didn't get him going."

Charles Sweeton and Sam Curtis have been good at left and right tackle, respectively. Six Skyhawks are competing for the other three spots.

"That's something that we're struggling with every day," Simpson said. "It's good to have choices, but there needs to start being some clear-cut choices of one group is playing significantly better than the next guy ... We're waiting for some guys to take control and just be more consistent."

TURNOVER ISSUES: Turnover ratio devastated UTM last year, and the Skyhawks haven't forced any turnovers in either game this year. Simpson said the defense dropped three or four likely interceptions Saturday, and safety Leon Carlton was the only player making a concerted effort to strip the ball away.

"We're not putting enough pressure on the quarterback, and that's a concern as well," Simpson said. "You look at the tape and that's whether we're sending a four-man rush, five-man rush, six-man rush, even seven-man rush."